Walking considered strength training?
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I addressed this before when writing about adaptation. Your body will adapt to the specific demands placed on it. There is a modest resistive component to activities such as hill walking. Someone who has low levels of muscle strength will likely experience a measurable increase in leg muscle "strength" if they start regularly walking up hills. However, that "strength" will only increase to the extent necessary to perform the activity. And just walking more hills will not result in further increases in strength.
And this modest strength adaptation is only a fraction of what one can achieve following a progressive resistance program.
Cardio and strength conditioning do not occur in isolation, and I think this is where some of the confusion arises. The average beginner starts doing cardio, esp something like incline walking or stair climbing and feels the leg muscles becoming stronger (which they are). It's easy to draw the conclusion that these must be strength exercises as well. (Same thing happens in reverse with a beginner starting to do squats).
So while walking up a hill may make your legs feel "stronger", it is not equivalent to resistance training. If one is unsure of the difference, compare the movements: strength training causes momentary muscle fatigue/failure in 1-15 reps; when doing cardio, one performs thousands of repetitions without reaching failure. How would it possible to achieve the same results?
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Thank you, ( I must have missed your previous post)
So a beginner walking up hill till they cant take it any more is working towards leg strength but will come to a point when it will no longer work when you don't get to that "cant take it any more" point.
I walk a lot of pastures with huge gullies (wash outs), I guess I should call it hiking.
The point of exhaustion I assume is the difference.0 -
bcalvanese wrote: »
I would highly recommend overweight and obese people to walk until they get to a healthy weight before they start running.
wow
well thank you for your professional opinion
i think me and my fat *kitten* will go with the opinions of my medical team, my physio and the trainers at the gym on my running
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How fat do you think most serious runners are? Like overweight or obese?
In your experience.
The argument here was that poster said "all walkers and endurance runners are lean."
I'd agree that MANY are. But not all. Walking and running don't make you lean and there are plenty of people who are overweight and achieve great runs while still overeating and carrying extra weight.
No, I said that serious runners are usually very lean. That poster has disagreed because in his experience, serious runners are usually not very lean.
I have no intention of arguing with either answer. I'm just interested about his experience with these non-lean, but serious runners.
We all have different experiences.
Like you, my experience has been that when a person is a serious runner, they'll almost always have a very lean body.
Um....I'm a she.
No, I disgreed because serious runners are not always lean, they can be of normal weight and overweight, and I've seen some I would consider obese. I don't think weight has anything to do with seriousness/committment to running. I'd say when you're committed to running you are serious about it.
You are projecting your own stuff and making a sweepoing generalization obout certain runners.
Now, let me ask you- why do you believe that only serious runner are lean (or only lean runners are serious)?
I'm sorry about thinking you were a guy. It was an honest mistake and not in any way intended as an insult.
No, I didn't say "always." I said "usually." That is what you disagreed with. You disagreed with the idea that serious runners are usually very lean, which means that they must be usually be something other than very lean. That's what I was wondering about. In your experience, did you find that people who were seriously into running were usually overweight or obese?
If you misread what I what I said and were arguing that some people who run are overweight, we are in agreement.
Also, you've made an illogical jump in your thought process. When I say that serious runners are usually very lean individuals, it does not logically follow that I think they are the only lean individuals around or that only lean runners are serious.
Also...I'm not projecting anything. There's nothing to project. I'm not even sure how you came up with that, but am interested in what you thought I was projecting when I said that serious runners are usually very lean.0 -
Thank you, ( I must have missed your previous post)
So a beginner walking up hill till they cant take it any more is working towards leg strength but will come to a point when it will no longer work when you don't get to that "cant take it any more" point.
I walk a lot of pastures with huge gullies (wash outs), I guess I should call it hiking.
The point of exhaustion I assume is the difference.
Sorry--I wasn't criticizing when I referred to the earlier post- the way this thread has spun out of control, I would have been shocked had you seen it ;-)
But, yes, heavier weights that result in muscle ”failure" with minimal reps is a key factor.
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I addressed this before when writing about adaptation. Your body will adapt to the specific demands placed on it. There is a modest resistive component to activities such as hill walking. Someone who has low levels of muscle strength will likely experience a measurable increase in leg muscle "strength" if they start regularly walking up hills. However, that "strength" will only increase to the extent necessary to perform the activity. And just walking more hills will not result in further increases in strength.
And this modest strength adaptation is only a fraction of what one can achieve following a progressive resistance program.
Cardio and strength conditioning do not occur in isolation, and I think this is where some of the confusion arises. The average beginner starts doing cardio, esp something like incline walking or stair climbing and feels the leg muscles becoming stronger (which they are). It's easy to draw the conclusion that these must be strength exercises as well. (Same thing happens in reverse with a beginner starting to do squats).
So while walking up a hill may make your legs feel "stronger", it is not equivalent to resistance training. If one is unsure of the difference, compare the movements: strength training causes momentary muscle fatigue/failure in 1-15 reps; when doing cardio, one performs thousands of repetitions without reaching failure. How would it possible to achieve the same results?
Interesting - thankyou0 -
Thank you, ( I must have missed your previous post)
So a beginner walking up hill till they cant take it any more is working towards leg strength but will come to a point when it will no longer work when you don't get to that "cant take it any more" point.
I walk a lot of pastures with huge gullies (wash outs), I guess I should call it hiking.
The point of exhaustion I assume is the difference.
Sorry--I wasn't criticizing when I referred to the earlier post- the way this thread has spun out of control, I would have been shocked had you seen it ;-)
But, yes, heavier weights that result in muscle ”failure" with minimal reps is a key factor.
Your fine, none taken.
I was hoping to get back on track to the walking and strength, instead of the "definition serious runner".
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You disagreed with the idea that serious runners are usually very lean, which means that they must be usually be something other than very lean. That's what I was wondering about. In your experience, did you find that people who were seriously into running were usually overweight or obese?
Usually very lean = normally or most of the time "very lean." As I said before, to me "very lean" means 20% or less body fat for a woman. I would say that there's no generalizing as in they are "usually" any body type for runners, but in my experience they are more often than not (which is different from "usually") of normal weight. They are not actually most often "very lean."
Elite runners would be.0 -
ruqayyahsmum wrote: »bcalvanese wrote: »
I would highly recommend overweight and obese people to walk until they get to a healthy weight before they start running.
wow
well thank you for your professional opinion
i think me and my fat *kitten* will go with the opinions of my medical team, my physio and the trainers at the gym on my running
Hey. I'm obese (well now at the higher end of the overweight range, because I lost over 35 pounds so far from walking/biking/kayaking) and would like to start running again some day, but my doctor agrees that I should probably wait until I get to a healthy weight first to prevent impact injuries. especially at my age (just turned 58).
It was my intent not to insult anyone, but just try to pass along some basic and common sense knowledge.
Maybe "your team" will make some money if you get any impact injuries... 0 -
bcalvanese wrote: »A serious runner is someone who runs for a living?
Yeah. No. That's a professional runner. An elite runner.
That's not even the definition the poster used who started this whole judgmental mess. I believe she said someone who runs regularly, signs up and runs races is a serious runner. People who do that are serious runners. They are committed to the act of running. Those people come in all shapes, sizes and abilities.
I started running when I was technically obese. I am now what people would probably consider lean. Is that because of running. Not really. It's because I consistently ate at a deficit. Am I a better, more efficient runner now? Yes, but that isn't the topic at hand. I was a serious, committed runner in both cases.
I said "pretty much for a living" meaning every day for hours, 100% dedicated to running. Not "runs for a living' as in professional.
Don't know why you took it the wrong way. Maybe I just suck at wording things.
Your definition is pretty flawed. Most serious runners don't run everyday for hours. Ask any of them. Marathon runners don't run for hours everyday. They follow a training schedule which includes the much needed rest days. So. There.
And the bolded. Probably. However, I think I took it the wrong way though because your comments are chuck full of judgment.
I wont ague that our definition of serious runner are completely different. But to say one is wrong just because it's not yours is wrong.0 -
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bcalvanese wrote: »bcalvanese wrote: »A serious runner is someone who runs for a living?
Yeah. No. That's a professional runner. An elite runner.
That's not even the definition the poster used who started this whole judgmental mess. I believe she said someone who runs regularly, signs up and runs races is a serious runner. People who do that are serious runners. They are committed to the act of running. Those people come in all shapes, sizes and abilities.
I started running when I was technically obese. I am now what people would probably consider lean. Is that because of running. Not really. It's because I consistently ate at a deficit. Am I a better, more efficient runner now? Yes, but that isn't the topic at hand. I was a serious, committed runner in both cases.
I said "pretty much for a living" meaning every day for hours, 100% dedicated to running. Not "runs for a living' as in professional.
Don't know why you took it the wrong way. Maybe I just suck at wording things.
Your definition is pretty flawed. Most serious runners don't run everyday for hours. Ask any of them. Marathon runners don't run for hours everyday. They follow a training schedule which includes the much needed rest days. So. There.
And the bolded. Probably. However, I think I took it the wrong way though because your comments are chuck full of judgment.
I wont ague that our definition of serious runner are completely different. But to say one is wrong just because it's not yours is wrong.
You sure love telling people they are wrong.
Enjoy your day.
I never said you were wrong.0 -
Can someone please answer this question? It's got me puzzled.I was just thinking the other day about when my cast was removed from my leg after being enclosed for 2 months. That leg had no muscle definition compared to the other. It looked scrawny, white, and hairy. haha. As soon as I began walking on it, the muscle quickly returned to the normal size. So.... ? Thoughts?
What's the question, exactly?
Well, since you couldn't work it out...
If strength exercises improve/build muscle, and walking isn't a strength exercise, how did @jodybo2's wasted leg get back to normal muscle size if she was just walking?
Boomerang effect from "unnatural" depletion.
So yes, if you are completely emaciated, walking can, for a little while, qualify as "strength training".
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bcalvanese wrote: »ruqayyahsmum wrote: »bcalvanese wrote: »
I would highly recommend overweight and obese people to walk until they get to a healthy weight before they start running.
wow
well thank you for your professional opinion
i think me and my fat *kitten* will go with the opinions of my medical team, my physio and the trainers at the gym on my running
Hey. I'm obese (well now at the higher end of the overweight range, because I lost over 35 pounds so far from walking/biking/kayaking) and would like to start running again some day, but my doctor agrees that I should probably wait until I get to a healthy weight first to prevent impact injuries. especially at my age (just turned 58).
It was my intent not to insult anyone, but just try to pass along some basic and common sense knowledge.
Maybe "your team" will make some money if you get any impact injuries...
my medical team will make nothing. health care is free in my country and that includes my physio
my team are also more than happy with me losing 168lb so far and arnt expecting me to hit some mythical ideal number to start running
what you call basic and common sense knowledge is frankly absurd and insulting
maybe spend sometime working on your way of interacting with others
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Can someone please answer this question? It's got me puzzled.I was just thinking the other day about when my cast was removed from my leg after being enclosed for 2 months. That leg had no muscle definition compared to the other. It looked scrawny, white, and hairy. haha. As soon as I began walking on it, the muscle quickly returned to the normal size. So.... ? Thoughts?
What's the question, exactly?
Well, since you couldn't work it out...
If strength exercises improve/build muscle, and walking isn't a strength exercise, how did @jodybo2's wasted leg get back to normal muscle size if she was just walking?
This is not difficult. Training results are adaptations to the specific training load being applied. The extent of training results depends on the specific demands of the training activity.
There are certain muscular demands to walking or performing any movement (even a cardio movement). If ones current muscle strength is insufficient to comfortably meet the demand, then performing the activity will result in the amount of increased muscle strength necessary to meet the demand of the activity. However once those demands are met, no further adaptation will occur.
A sedentary person starting a cardio activity, or someone starting a new activity will always experience an increase in the muscular "strength" necessary to perform that activity. That is not the same as "strength training". The amount of increase will be modest and will quickly plateau.
Great explanation! Thank you.0 -
Can someone please answer this question? It's got me puzzled.I was just thinking the other day about when my cast was removed from my leg after being enclosed for 2 months. That leg had no muscle definition compared to the other. It looked scrawny, white, and hairy. haha. As soon as I began walking on it, the muscle quickly returned to the normal size. So.... ? Thoughts?
What's the question, exactly?
Well, since you couldn't work it out...
If strength exercises improve/build muscle, and walking isn't a strength exercise, how did @jodybo2's wasted leg get back to normal muscle size if she was just walking?
Boomerang effect from "unnatural" depletion.
So yes, if you are completely emaciated, walking can, for a little while, qualify as "strength training".
Thanks, old beast!
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christinev297 wrote: »I've been walking over 10 miles on most days for months. I have noticed zero definition in my legs
Can i ask why you walk over 10 miles most days?
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lisakelsch7 wrote: »Yes I know..its not lifting any considerable weight but it does eventually build muscle in the legs. So should it be considered strength training?
No, but it is a load bearing exercise and helps maintain or increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis. You will gain some strength due to the load bearing (compared to something like a bicycle).
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christinev297 wrote: »I've been walking over 10 miles on most days for months. I have noticed zero definition in my legs
Can i ask why you walk over 10 miles most days?
It's just what I've gotten used to. 10 miles for me is roughly 25,000 steps.
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As an aside I would like some advice please.
I walk everywhere as I don't have a car and use the treadmill at the gum. I can't run because of a bad knee.
I'm trying to get my legs stronger before I go into surgery (which could be a zillion years away).
Atm I do half uphill at 3mph at 10-15% and half on the flat at about 4.2mph. Roughly about 20-30 mins each time.
Could this be improved and make my legs stronger?
Do body weight squats and lunges. Also walk up the stairs (2 at a time is great). These are additional ways to build leg strength.0 -
christinev297 wrote: »christinev297 wrote: »I've been walking over 10 miles on most days for months. I have noticed zero definition in my legs
Can i ask why you walk over 10 miles most days?
It's just what I've gotten used to. 10 miles for me is roughly 25,000 steps.
how long does it take?0 -
christinev297 wrote: »christinev297 wrote: »I've been walking over 10 miles on most days for months. I have noticed zero definition in my legs
Can i ask why you walk over 10 miles most days?
It's just what I've gotten used to. 10 miles for me is roughly 25,000 steps.
how long does it take?
It takes me all day. I usually start at 8am and finish at 5pm. I do 2,000 step blocks every 30-45 minutes or so. I haven't figured out the exact times.
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I just went back and had a look at my fitbit numbers
26,431 steps = 12 miles
209 Active minutes0 -
Can someone please answer this question? It's got me puzzled.I was just thinking the other day about when my cast was removed from my leg after being enclosed for 2 months. That leg had no muscle definition compared to the other. It looked scrawny, white, and hairy. haha. As soon as I began walking on it, the muscle quickly returned to the normal size. So.... ? Thoughts?
What's the question, exactly?
Well, since you couldn't work it out...
If strength exercises improve/build muscle, and walking isn't a strength exercise, how did @jodybo2's wasted leg get back to normal muscle size if she was just walking?
Boomerang effect from "unnatural" depletion.
So yes, if you are completely emaciated, walking can, for a little while, qualify as "strength training".
Thanks, old beast!
I'd smile, but the wrinkles are getting in the way.0 -
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It takes me all day. I usually start at 8am and finish at 5pm. I do 2,000 step blocks every 30-45 minutes or so. I haven't figured out the exact times.
[/quote]
omg that made me lol xD i thought you meant it akes you all day as in you spend all day on walking
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It takes me all day. I usually start at 8am and finish at 5pm. I do 2,000 step blocks every 30-45 minutes or so. I haven't figured out the exact times.
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omg that made me lol xD i thought you meant it akes you all day as in you spend all day on walking[/quote]
Haha I thought It would have come across like that. Sometimes it does feel like all I do all damn day is walking, walking and more walking. But I love seeing the calories go UP in my diary, so it's all worth it.
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christinev297 wrote: »I wonder if you wore a heavy weight vest while walking, if that would make a difference? ?
Researchers say those things don't make any difference at all. I've seen them in the store and they look gimmicky to me.0
This discussion has been closed.
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